He was born to William H. and Lena Nobman in Oyster Bay, N.Y., on May 13, 1911.

As was often the case at the time, Mr. Nobman was needed to work in the family hardware store after his junior year in high school and never got his high school diploma.

In 1938, he married Elizabeth Rider in Oyster Bay. The couple lived there until their move to Hermosa.

In 1948, Mr. Nobman took over running the hardware store, which was established by his father and grandfather in 1910. He ran it until his retirement in 1983, when his son, Richard Nobman, took it over.

His family said Mr. Nobman was an accomplished sailor and maker of early-American-style reproduction furniture. His cabinetry often was displayed in the store. His son said that people would be amazed by the craftsmanship.

Mr. Nobman also was interested in antique automobiles, boats and airplanes and built many models of them.

Many people found it hard to believe that Mr. Nobman could leave the sea and move to the West, considering his love of the water, his son said. But, Richard Nobman said his father appreciated "the climate, the people and the small-town character of Durango."

Mr. Nobman is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth R. Nobman, of Durango; son, Richard Nobman of Durango; sister Marion Lyon of Nashville, Tenn.; and two grandchildren.

Cremation has occurred. A memorial service will be held at a later date at the family plot in Oyster Bay.

A rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. after the rosary.

Don Francis Whalen (10/8/2006)

Well-known Fort Lewis College educator and community leader Donald Francis Whalen died on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006, in Scottsdale, Ariz., from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 75.

Mr. Whalen was born to Luke Arthur and Lillian Hastings Whalen on Dec. 31, 1930, in Long Beach, Calif. When he was 3, his family moved to Boulder City, Nev., where his father was one of the first high scalers and pipe fitters working on the Hoover Dam. Mr. Whalen attended kindergarten through 12th grade in Boulder City.

He attended the University of Santa Clara and College of the Pacific on basketball scholarships, before earning his bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. He would eventually earn his doctorate in health and safety education from the University of Indiana in Bloomington.

Mr. Whalen enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951. On June 2 of that year, he married Pauline Sommer in Norman, Okla. He later played on the USAF Strategic Air Command basketball team in Omaha, Neb., before going to Officers Candidate School. He held the rank of first lieutenant when he was given an early honorable discharge.

Before coming to FLC, Mr. Whalen taught and coached basketball in Yuba City, Calif. During his 29-year career at FLC, he coached golf and basketball and served as athletic director, dean of education, vice president of student affairs and two stints as acting president.

Mr. Whalen is survived by his wife of 55 years, Pauline Whalen of Durango and Scottsdale; sons Dann F. Whalen of Denver and Gary A. Whalen of Durango; brothers Dennis Whalen of Baton Rouge, La., Brian Whalen of Reno, Nev., Barry Whalen of Alamo, Calif., and Luke Whalen of Hailey, Idaho; sister Patsy Whalen Nolan of New Bern, N.C.; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006, at St. Columba Catholic Church. The Rev. Jim Koenigsfeld will officiate.

A reception will follow immediately at the Parish Center. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Donald F. Whalen Scholarship Fund, c/o the Fort Lewis Foundation, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301; or for research at the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York City, NY 10018 or at www.pdf.org.

Cheryl Ann Pedigo (10/7/2006)

Durango resident Cheryl Ann Pedigo, 61, died at Mercy Regional Medical Center on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006. The cause of death was not disclosed.

She was born to James Hamilton and Norma Treace Jackson in Prineville, Ore., on Nov. 29, 1944. She graduated from high school there in 1961.

They said she welcomed everyone into her heart and her home and will never be forgotten.

Mrs. Pedigo is survived by her husband of 43 years, Kenneth Pedigo, of Durango; children Amber Treace Pedigo and Elijah James Pedigo, both of Durango; mother Norma Jackson of Pendleton, Ore.; father James Jackson of Bend, Ore.; brothers Gary Jackson of Durango and Monty Jackson of Pacifica, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today, Oct. 7, 2006, at Pine Valley Church in Bayfield.

Cremation will occur.

Frank Andrew Gallegos (10/7/2006)

Ignacio native Frank Andrew Gallegos, 52, died in Farmington on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Mr. Gallegos was born to Tony and Mary Gallegos in Ignacio and lived most of his life there.

The couple spent some years living in Salt Lake City before moving to Farmington.

Mr. Gallegos worked for Williams Co. for 22 years.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching the Denver Broncos and going to sporting events with his sons. His family said he was fortunate to have many friends and family members in his life with whom to share his great sense of humor and compassion.

Mr. Gallegos is survived by his wife, Phyllis Gallegos, of Farmington; sons Lonnie Gallegos and Joe Gallegos of Foothill Ranch, Calif.; parents Tony and Mary Gallegos of Ignacio; brothers Dave Gallegos of Ignacio and Joe Gallegos of Little Elm, Texas; sisters Margaret Gomez of Durango and Cindy Gallegos and Kathy Gurule, both of Ignacio; eight nephews, three nieces, two great-nephews and one great-niece.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9, 2006, also at St. Ignatius.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to United Way.

Margaret Elizabeth Ancell (10/3/2006)

Longtime Cortez resident Margaret Elizabeth Ancell died at her home on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. She was 94.

Mrs. Ancell was born to Freeman and Emily Belle (Hart) Galloway in Zephyr, Texas, on Jan. 11, 1912.

Mrs. Ancell was a member of the Sweet Adelines and the Church of Christ. Her family said gardening and canning were her first loves. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting.

Mrs. Ancell was preceded in death by her husband, Lee M. Ancell Sr., in 2003.

She is survived by her children Julie Pickering of Durango, Walter H. Ancell of Dolores, Bill C. Ancell of Lawton, Okla., and Marvin Ancell of Melbourne, Australia; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006, at the Cortez Church of Christ. Gary Hill will officiate. Burial will follow at the Cortez Cemetery.

Larry Don Williams (10/1/2006)

The father of Durango residents Vicki Diaz and Dana McGuire, Larry Don Williams died of meningioma at his home in Prosper, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006. He was 60.

Mr. Williams was born to W.C. "Dub" and Melba Williams in Bowie, Texas, on Jan. 20, 1946. When he was young, the Williams family moved to Denver City, Texas, where he lived until 2000. At that time, he moved to Prosper.

Mr. Williams attended schools in Denver City and Plains, Texas, graduating from Plains High School in 1964. He continued his education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

He was a long-time oil-field contractor, and, after his father's death, co-owner of COFC Inc. in Denver City.

Mr. Williams married Dana Dyer in 1964. The marriage later ended in divorce.

He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Denver City. His family said that throughout his illness, Mr. Williams kept his keen wit and unique sense of humor. They said he never really lost his faith that he would be healed.

Mr. Williams is survived by his wife, Joni Williams, of Prosper; daughters Dana McGuire and Vicki Diaz, both of Durango, and Misty York of Rockwall, Texas; son Stoney Con Thomas, of Lubbock; brothers Sam Williams of Denver City and Rick Williams of Wailuku, Hawaii; sister Sandra Thompson of Lubbock; five grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial service was held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, 2006, at the Southside Baptist Church in Bowie. The Rev. Gene Benningfield of Denver City officiated and was assisted by the Rev. John Roblez of Bowie.

Mr. Williams' ashes will be brought to Durango to be dispersed in the mountains near his beloved daughters.

Margaret Jessica (Hathaway) Park (10/1/2006)

Durango resident Margaret Jessica (Hathaway) Park died in Durango on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. She was 65. The cause of death was cancer.

Mrs. Park was born on June 22, 1941, in Whittier, Calif., to Julian Hathaway and Helen Hathaway. She attended Little Lake Elementary School and Santa Fe High School, both in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. She spent three years at a college in Long Beach.

On Aug. 22, 1962, she married Pat Park. After living in various parts of California, the couple moved to Durango in 1979. She was a member River Church and the Durango Quilters.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006, at The River Church, 860 Plymouth Drive, Durango.

Charles Bennett Edgerton (10/1/2006)

Former Durango resident Charles Bennett Edgerton died at his Cortez home on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006. He was 81.

Known as "Charlie," Mr. Edgerton was born to Charles Alvin and Blanche (Ford) Edgerton in Clovis, N.M., on June 23, 1925.

On Dec. 24, 1947, he married Billie Madeleine Bush at her home in Raymondville, Texas.

Mr. Edgerton was an active member of the Boy Scouts and was a past leader in Ozona, Texas. He was named "Queen of the Kitchen" at the Colorado State Fair in 1984.

Mr. Edgerton is survived by his wife of 58 years, Billie Edgerton, of Cortez; children Janie VanZandt of Mobeetie, Texas; Don Edgerton of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Skookie Bailey of Sour Lake, Texas; and Bill Edgerton of Cortez; sister Ruth Slay of Houston; and nine grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel in Cortez. Burial will follow at the Cortez Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Ute Mountain American Legion Post No. 75.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Great Southwest Council Boy Scouts of America, 5841 Office Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.

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